Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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So worried for bunny. She is a front leg missing tripaw. Currently with torn ligiments in both rear legs. She has just had TTA surgery on one leg and may well need it on the other. Any advise on recover for a currently one legged pup would be very grateful. So concerned for her. My biggest worry aside from the TTA healing without any accidents ofcorse..if she hasnt toileted and i dont know how she will! As she is not using her rear legs. She doesnt understand when i try to 'hoist' and support her in the garden and i can sit with her on the grass and she wont do anything. How can i tell her its ok to go wherever she is and i will clear it up. I last saw her poo on sunday. She had a wee before her surgery on Tuesday. And it is now Wednesday evening. Just want my baby better again 🙁 x
Hi Bunny and family, welcome. We are so glad you joined us and very sorry you needed to. We know that a remaining leg surgery recovery on a Tripawd can be very scary.
So surgery was just a couple of days ago? What kind of pain medication is she on? It's expected that she will be wobbly and constipated this soon after surgery, since pain medication does that to dogs. She may have too much medication, or too little, so please double check with your vet about her condition right now OK? It's so important to stay connected with them. And we can do our best to help you too since many people have been through this type of surgery recovery.
Have you arranged for physio therapy for Bunny? If not, get a referral ASAP. This is critical for a good recovery and surgery success. Your vet should be able to connect you.
Here are some posts with tips and ideas that should make you feel better:
Remaining Leg Surgery Recovery for Three Legged Dogs
Remaining Limb Surgery Recovery for Tripawds
What to Know About Remaining Limb Surgery on a Tripawd
Stay tuned for feedback from others! Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Geez, you have your hands full. but you are doing an extraordinary job of caring for your sweet Bunny u der challenging circumstances.
As far as the pee, perhaps scented puppy training pads may help her wee while laying down? Also, and your Vet can show you how, you can manually express her bladder. We also have a video on the site. I'm just not good at telling you how to do searches on here. A delay in poo is less of a concern tha. Getting her to pee, so don't worry about that right now, okay?
While you are dealing with an exhausting challenge, both mentally and physically., IT IS DOABLE!!
And absolutely, as Jerry said., please get her an appoi woth a Certified Rehab Specialist asap. Some do home visits. The Tripawd Foundation. will pay for the first visit with the Maggie Moo Fund . The Therapost can help heal the leg just operated on, but may also be able to to therapy on the other leg u til thst operation can take place. Hot/cold compresses, massaging, laser therapy....there are things that can be done on both legs.
I have a front legger ttipawd who has a lot of wear and tear on his joints, as well as arthritis. He had cruciate repair surgery on one rear leg two years ago, and then a year later had cruciate repair on the other (TPLO). So at least I had plenty of time for the first one to heal, .Obviously. you have a tougher road ahead, but you and Bunny will get thru this!!!
BTW, my Frankie despises any help at all with a harness! And despises is an unferstatement!! Maybe if you put her on the puppy pee pad in a spot where she usually peed, she may go of you walk away. Dog's do like their privacy.
If we can help in any way, please let us know. YOU ARE. NOT ALONE, okay??
Would love to see pics of your sweet Bunny. How much does she weigh?
Hugs,
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Wow this community looks amazing.
Thankyou for re posting my post in the correct place jerry. I have just listened to the radio chat with sally that you linked above and its really really eased my current panic. Of just hoping i have done the right thing for my baby.
Thankyou for you concerns and help.
Here is Bunny Dennis' story. She is a beagle who lost her front right leg at the age of 10 weeks. We became best buddys when she was 7 months old and she is now 9 years. Shes been a very happy bouncy cheeky beagle all her life. Having 3 legs has not held her back at all.
Until now 🙁
A month ago while playing with friends she hurt her back right leg. I went to pick her up to see what she had done and she hopped off on her remaining two as tho nothing had happened! Arnt dogs remarkable ! The next day i took her to the vets and they xrayed and confirmed her crucial ligament had compltley torn. They recommened surgury should be done.
After a bit of confusions with the vets she was booked in for surgery. But before she got it her remainder back leg also went. So she has been left struggling on both back legs. Slightly balancing on them both to toilet but doing no more than that for 10 days.. not walking more than one or two jops and falling down again. Yesterday she went in for TTA on the original hurt back leg. Today she had come home. So very early days. The vets fear is ofcorse making sure she is supported and hardly moving while she heals. So i know it is a long few months ahead.
My first initial worry is how she will toilet. I have carried her to the garden twice since she has been home, She does not attempt to move but im hoping if we sit there long enough she may just wet herself. She has been licking herself (i think licking up wee) while in her crate.. as tho she wants to toilet but cant bring herself to do it..
I have attempted using a sling but as she is not wanting to move either back leg at all it is not achieving anything at the moment as it is just hanging her around.
Not arranged physio yet but will certainly be asking my vet again for recommendations with tjat thankyou x
Sally (benny 55) thankyou so so much for your reply. Honestly your chat on the radio link really really made me feel so less alone. I was crying listening to it..until you said that bit about how we dont want to cry in front of our dogs or for them to see us sad. Will be putting on a brave face for my bunny.
Great idea about the puppy pads in a wee spot. I will be trying it tomorrow. I have a towel over her bed at the moment.
Im really worried about how fragile her leg is till it heals. Obviously she is not even walking on it now but even a slight knock with her other leg is panicing me it will ruin the surgery. Bunny is definitely handling this a lot better than i am! I am panicing anout everything.
She is only 11.5kg so not too heavy.. but thankyou so much for your reply and information. I live alone and am doing this alone and its just honestly so much relief to realise others have got through this and got through the other side!!
Im sat with my head in her crate typing this as she and her poor shaved leg keeps shivering. I really wish we could tell them everything will be ok at moments like this.
I cant work out how to upload photos quite yet.. i will work it out to show you all 🙂
Thankyou again .
Jemma x
You are given some challenging hurdles and you are handling them like a Champ!! Your depth of love for Bunny will give you the strength you need to get thru rhis. And, you have us too to lean on!!
It's good that she appears to be cleaning up some pee on her....that means she's at least going some. How about today? Any pee luck?
The shivering could be a sign of pain. What pain meds is she on, the dose and the frequency?
I also am the only hooman for my dogs and I know that adds an extra layer of challenges and stress when it's just you. I'm glad that weight wise you can help support him without breaking your back.
I don't know of this is possible, but do you have a 24/7 fully staffed clinic Bunny could spend a few days? They could help with safely getting her out to potty. They use two Vet Techs at a tine... one on each side. Plus, if they need to express her bladder they can do that there. Just throwing that out there.
Update when you can. I wish we could be there to help you with the physical part. I k ow that's so hard on your own. But we are here to support you in any other way, okay
Extra higs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Jemma, you absolutely have a challenging situation but I know you are strong and can help Bunny have a good recovery! You can do this! By showing her that you can remain calm and not panicked, you are telling her that things are going to be OK.
I'm so glad you found Sally's interview helpful. Like you, she handled recovery primarily on her own and it was not easy but Frankie made it and now has a better quality of life than before the surgery when he was in so much pain. Bunny will get there too!
I agree that having an assistant help you at home, or leaving Bunny at a 24/7 clinic, may be a good idea right now. Ask your vet to see if any of their vet techs freelance on the side as home health aides. I know that many here in the US do and I'm guessing it's the same where you are.
Also, do you know how to express her bladder? If not, you may want to learn. Here is a video that explains. Sometimes just doing that a few times can re-introduce a dog to knowing how good it feels to go wee, and she may get on the path to doing that faster if you can help that way. She should never go longer than 12 hours without weeing so let your vet know if she is OK?
Where in the UK are you located? We have some members in the UK and they just might be near you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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